Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 178

The Recitation of the Thousand Names of Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa (Yugala-Sahasranāma) and Śaraṇāgati-Dharma

Devanagari script

शिखिपिच्छलसच्चूडा स्वर्णचंपकभूषिता । कुंकुमालक्तकस्तूरीमंडिता चापराजिता ॥ १७८ ॥

Transliteration

śikhipicchalasaccūḍā svarṇacaṃpakabhūṣitā | kuṃkumālaktakastūrīmaṃḍitā cāparājitā || 178 ||

Translation

髪には精妙な孔雀の羽の飾りを戴き、黄金のチャンパカの装身具で飾られ、クンクマ、紅のラック染め、カストゥーリーの香で彩られて—常に不敗にして燦然としていた。

Word by Word

• शिखि-पिच्छल-सत्-चूडा: having a fine topknot adorned with peacock feathers
• शिखि-पिच्छल-सत्-चूडा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिखि (प्रातिपदिक) + पिच्छल (प्रातिपदिक) + सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + चूडा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘शिखिनः पिच्छैः सत् (सुन्दर/उत्तम) चूडा यस्याः’

• स्वर्ण-चम्पक-भूषिता: adorned with golden campaka flowers/ornaments
• स्वर्ण-चम्पक-भूषिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + चम्पक (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त, भूष्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) भूष् धातोः; ‘स्वर्णचम्पकैः भूषिता’ (तृतीया-सम्बन्धः)

• कुङ्कुम-अलक्तक-कस्तूरी-मण्डिता: adorned with saffron, red lac, and musk
• कुङ्कुम-अलक्तक-कस्तूरी-मण्डिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुङ्कुम (प्रातिपदिक) + अलक्तक (प्रातिपदिक) + कस्तूरी (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डित (कृदन्त, मण्ड्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्वः (कुङ्कुम+अलक्तक+कस्तूरी) ततः ‘...मण्डिता’; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अपराजिता: unconquered
• अपराजिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपराजित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-समासान्त विशेषण—‘न पराजिता’ (unconquered)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Characters & Entities

• Aparājitā

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

The verse functions as a dhyāna-style description: by contemplating the deity’s auspicious ornaments and purity-symbols (gold, campaka, kuṃkuma, kastūrī), the practitioner stabilizes devotion and focuses the mind for ritual or recitation.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Bhakti here is expressed through reverent visualization and praise (stuti/dhyāna): describing the deity’s splendor is a way to remember (smaraṇa) and adore (pūjana-bhāva) the divine form, deepening single-pointed attention.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It reflects ritual-technical language used in worship—materials and adornments (dravya, anulepana like kuṃkuma and kastūrī, decorative bhūṣaṇa), supporting correct pūjā procedure and visualization conventions.